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go,” Akana noted. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about the dog. The reason we are here is because we are K9 handlers.”
Kocanda has been on for 25 years, the past 13 with Public Transportation. Ficko, a Vizsla, is his second partner, after work- ing 10 years with Rachel, a Belgian Malinois. Kocanda was gung- ho about working the Super Bowl as a way to enhance the contin- uous training handlers take on with their partners to prepare for every possible scenario.
“Because of the people you meet here within the K9 communi- ty, you’re always picking up something new,” Kocanda comment- ed. “Because everything is always changing for the dogs, you can learn about a problem that might surface in the future and know how to address it.”
Gonzalez, who has been on for 20 years, worked much of her career to get here. She did a tour in animal crimes that induced a desire to be a K9 officer. After testing to get in nearly 15 years ago, she waited another seven to be partnered with Daisy, a Dutch Shepherd.
As part of the Public Transportation Unit, Gonzalez, Kocanda and Akana guide their partners on regular sweeps of trains and buses, as well as checking different terminals. If a government dignitary visits, they can be called on to work with the Secret Ser- vice to secure the area.
Passing annual testing from TSA and the continuous training prepared them all to be part of the Super Bowl team third watch from 3 to 11 p.m. On Jan. 22, they packed separate cars with their partners and drove to Nashville. The next day, they arrived in At- lanta and attended the massive briefing with K9s from across the country about what the ensuing two weeks would entail.
Their specific assignments rotated, which documented the extreme breadth of details. Gonzalez, for example, worked one shift at a park where free concerts were held, and she and Daisy had the sweeps where the artists entered. But only outside the entrance; another team had the inside.
Kocanda did a shift at the Patriots’ hotel, continuously sweep- ing the team bus. The next day, he and Akana worked the hotel where the Rams stayed. On Jan. 28, they joined the detail working State Farm Arena during media night. They swept thousands of pieces of equipment being used by members of the press from around the world.
The closest they got to the game was an all-watch sweep of Mercedes-Benz Stadium from midnight to 6 a.m. eight days be- fore kickoff.
“We got to see how the other half lives,” Akana shared about doing a sweep of one of the stadium’s luxury suites.
All fans and visitors should be happy to know that the K9s were treated as well as the players. The K9 officers had their own hotel – a little village to let the dogs out and for handlers to share best practices and ideas during off hours.
“I was so impressed with the care of the K9s,” Gonzalez ex- plained. “They were prepared to handle any medical emergen- cies. A lot of thought was put into the whole process.”
On the day of the game, all officers were positioned on high alert, monitoring radios from different parts of the city. They were prepared to move at a moment’s notice should something occur, like an explosive being uncovered in a sweep.
“With a prime target with hundreds of thousands of people, ev- erybody was on their p’s and q’s,” Akana said.
When they headed home on Feb. 5, Akana, Kocanda and Gon- zalez each brought back a load of patches from other depart- ments that they traded for and challenge coins officers exchange at these events. And they brought something back that could very well benefit other Chicago Police Officers.
“Chicago has never really sent anybody to the Super Bowl,” Akana added. “But times are changing. Maybe they will send somebody every year. It would be nice for everybody to get a chance to represent the city.”
Trial attorneys Andy Hale and Brian Monico have teamed up to form the new law firm
The firm has now added these new practice areas: Injury Claims, Medical Malpractice, and Wrongful Death
Monadnock Building 53 W. Jackson, Suite 330 Chicago, IL 60604
Andy Hale
(312) 870-6926 amh@halemonico.com
Brian Monico
(312) 320-6085 btm@halemonico.com
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